By the Caribbean Journal staff

All-inclusive giant Riu Resorts has officially expanded in the Mexican Caribbean with the debut of the new Riu Dunamar.

The new family-friendly all-inclusive is set in the relatively new Costa Mujeres development, about 30 km north of Cancun’s traditional tourism hub.

A typical room at Riu Dunamar.

Costa Mujeres will also soon be home to a major new project by Palladium Hotel Group slated to make its debut later on in 2018.

The 700-room hotel has a total of five outdoor pools, along with Riu’s new Splash Water World water park concept, which is becoming a signature at the company’s newer properties.

Culinary offerings range from a steakhouse called Las Brasas to a buffet eatery called Isla Mujeres and international restaurants like “Kulinariaum,” “Bamboo” and “Pompeya.”

The Riu Dunamar also includes a “RiuLand” kids’ club and a fitness program called RiuFit, along with the brand’s signature Renova Spa.

“We’re launching a destination with a brand new hotel that is ready to offer its best and newest amenities in modern facilities designed down to the last detail,” the company said in a release.

Riu has been on an expansion push in the Caribbean of late, both with new-build properties and renovation and expansion projects.

The post Riu Dunamar Opens Doors in Mexican Caribbean appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

Hilton is continuing its Caribbean expansion with a pair of major new projects on the Caribbean coast of Mexico.

Hilton has announced plans to open both a luxury Waldorf-Astoria and an all-inclusive Hilton in Cancun.

Developed by Parks Hospitality, the properties are slated to make their debut in 2021.

The neighboring properties will be set on 100 acres of Caribbean beachfront.

The announcement comes a few days after Hilton opened its its new Curio-branded Mahogany Bay in Belize.

“With more than half of our Latin America portfolio present in Mexico, we are proud to announce the plans for Waldorf Astoria Cancun and Hilton Cancun as we continue to introduce distinguished properties in the world’s most sought-after destinations,” said Juan Corvinos, vice president, development, Latin America and the Caribbean, Hilton. “Representing our luxury and upscale brands respectively, Waldorf Astoria Cancun and Hilton Cancun will offer guests a taste of Mexican culture fused with Waldorf Astoria’s uncompromising sophistication and Hilton’s flagship hospitality.”

Hilton earlier this year announced plans for another Waldorf Astoria in the Caribbean, a new project in Antigua.

The Waldorf Astoria Cancun will include 150 rooms and suites, with waterfront or mangrove-facing terraces and private balconies.

The beachfront Hilton Cancun will include 600 guest rooms with panoramic views.

“Through this collaboration, we are excited about expanding our portfolio in Cancun, one of Mexico’s top tourist destinations,” said Charles Elmann Fasja, CEO of Parks Desarrolladora. “We recognize the tremendous value in working with a respected industry leader such as Hilton and we look forward to building upon this alliance in the future.”

Design firms SB Architects, EDSA and HBA have been tapped to create a “fluid transition between indoor and outdoor spaces throughout both the Waldorf Astoria Cancun and the Hilton Cancun properties,” according to a statement.

The project will be located near Benito Juarez, about 10 minutes from Cancun International Airport.

The post Hilton, Waldorf Astoria Projects Coming to Cancun appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Bahamas has signed three new air services agreements, Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar announced this week.

D’Aguilar signed deals with Qatar, Australia and Finland during the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Air Services Negotiation event in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

An air services agreement allows commercial air services between a pair of countries.

This was the 10th session of ICAN.

The Bahamas has now signed 11 air services agreements, having previously signed deals with Curaçao, Singapore, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Turkey and New Zealand.

The Bahamas also had “fruitful negotiations” with South Africa, the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Austria, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Switzerland, Chile and Jordan, where Memoranda of Understanding were signed.

It is expected that full Air Service Agreements will soon be signed with those countries, according to a government statement.

The post Bahamas Signs Air Services Agreements With Qatar, Australia appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By the Caribbean Journal staff

The new air traffic control tower at Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport will become fully operational next month, according to the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority.

“Our team in Montego Bay is ready to move over. Parallel operations will be done over the next two weeks, following which there will be a full transition to the new tower,” said Nari Williams-Singh, director general of the Jamaica CAA.

Parallel operations involves the simultaneous use of the old and the new towers to direct air traffic in and out of the airport.

This is done to facilitate a smooth transition of air traffic control services, once the new facility goes into full operation

“The towers will greatly enhance the reliability and efficiency of our air navigation system, in addition to enhancing the work environment for the air traffic controllers,” Wiliams-Singh said.

The post A New Air Traffic Control Tower in Montego Bay appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Turks and Caicos is one of those rarefied destinations in the Caribbean, and that’s in large part due to the sheer number of top-level Turks and Caicos resorts.

It’s a destination where the pace is just a bit more relaxed, the beach is just a bit more beautiful and the ambience is just a bit more chic. It all adds up to an effortlessly chic but unmistakably relaxed destination.

While it starts with the unmatched natural wonder of Grace Bay Beach, it extends to a terrific culinary scene, a vastly underrated shopping offering and an ease of getting around that makes the TCI so rich to explore — whether taking jaunts around Providenciales or hopping around to the Turks and Caicos’ other, largely undiscovered islands and cays.

So if you’re looking for a getaway to Turks and Caicos, this is where to start: our 10 favorite Turks and Caicos resorts right now.

The Shore Club There’s a new flagship among Turks and Caicos resorts: The Shore Club, the simply stunning resort on bucolic Long Bay Beach in Providenciales. The construction quality is superb, the food sublime and the design is a marvelous marriage of South Beach and authentic West Indies.

The post The Top 10 Turks and Caicos Resorts to Visit Now appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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